Dusty Baker’s postseason lineup neglects Astros’ trade deadline deals

The Houston Astros are up 2-0 in the ALDS and so no alarm needs to be sounded, but there is one troubling trend prevalent. Dusty Baker has acted like the trade deadline deals never happened and holes in the lineup weren’t addressed.

The Astros spent a lot of trade capital this July to acquire Christian Vazquez, Trey Mancini, and Will Smith. Smith didn’t even make the ALDS roster with the Mariners having at least four players in their lineup that can hit from the left side.

Vazquez has came in to pinch hit in the seventh inning of game one to go one for two at the plate. Since Martin Maldonado started game one you might think Vazquez would start game two, but he didn’t play at all.

Trey Mancini nowhere to be found for Astros

The same story is true for outfielder and first baseman Trey Mancini, who the Astros acquired from the Orioles. Mancini is the likely choice at DH even though he is hitting .176  since joining the Astros.

Despite that fact he has smashed eight home runs and Aledmys Diaz who started in place of him at DH has hit .240 at DH this season in only seven games but has no home runs or RBI.  Mancini on the other hand hit .229 this season at DH with 10 home runs and 36 RBI in 71 games in the position.

Now the Astros are winning and so fans won’t be up in arms if the result is what is desired, but I for one am concerned if the trend continues into the ALCS, assuming the Astros move on.

Mancini and Vazquez are clearly the better players, and although pitchers are used to Maldonado, Vazquez easily bests him at the plate and defensively.  Smith should get a shot in the upcoming series but who knows if that will happen, as Baker seems unpredictable when it comes to lineups and rosters.

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